Multiple shelf refrigerated display cabinet



Feb. 9, 1965 K. A. WEBER MULTIPLE SHELF REFRIGERATED DISPLAY CABINET Filed Aug. 27, 1962 INVENTOR.

drrae/vffl United States Patent 3,165,818 MULTELE SHELF REFRIGERATED DlSlLAY CABlNE'll Karl A. Weber, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Weber Showcase Fixture (30., line, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 219,437 4 Claims. (Ell. 62-256) This invention relates to an improved refrigerated showcase.

It is an object of this invention to provide a showcase for all types of food products wherein some degree of refrigeration is desirable.

It is an object of this invention to provide in a display case a novel circulation of refrigerated air around the objects on display.

A further object of ims invention resides in delivering refrigerated air to the extreme front of each display bin and pulling same back over the produce.

Still a further object of this invention is to eliminate refrigerated air spillage from the showcase.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a case wherein exact control over the discharge of refrig erated air to each display bin is maintained.

Other objects and advantages will be readily apparent from the following description:

in the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation in section of a showcase embodying this invention.

FlGURE 2 is a view taken along line 2-2 of HG- URE 1.

An upright display case 159 has the usual insulated top 12, bottom 14- and rear walls 16, with the front wall broken away to afford an access opening l8. In this bodimen-t a chamber 20 is provided adjacent the upper end of the case which houses a blower 22. and refrigerated coils 24,. An air supply duct 26 receives air from blower 22 and directs same downwardly towards the lower end of the display case. A sheet 2% forms the rear Wall of such duct and sheet 30 the front wall. Spaced from sheet 30 is a further sheet 32 which forms a return duct Projecting outwardly from sheet 32 are hollow shelves 254 which communicate with supply duct 26 through transverse flared ducts as. Refrigerated air therefore is delivered by blower 22 into supply duct as whereby same flows through transverse ducts 36 into hollow shelves 34. At the outermost extremity of each shelf a diverter plate 37 is positioned in the path of such air to direct same through openings 38 and 40 above and below the shelves 34.

Plate 32 has return openings 42 therein beneath each shelf 34 and beneath chamber 20 whereby the air after being released at the extreme front of each shelf 34 is drawn into the return duct 33 wherein same flows upwardly through passage 44 to the refrigerated coil 24- for recirculation.

At the lowermost portion of the display case refrigerated air is diverted forwardly through passage 46, upwardly through passage 48 and directed rearwardly over display bin Sit by inturned edge 52 into return duct 33.

Thus in operation refrigerated air flows down duct 26 through transverse ducts 36 into hollow shelves 34. Air fiow then is directed out openings 38 and 40 passing over 3,lh8,8l8 Patented Feb. 9, 1955 the items on display on shelves and is drawn or inhaled through openings 42 into return duct 33 and hence through passage l ito refrigerated coil 24 by blower 22.

While what hereinbefore has been described as the pre ferred embodiment of this invention, it is readily apparent that alterations and modifications can be resorted to without departing from the scope of this invention and such alterations and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. in a refrigerated showcase the combination of: a series of transverse hollow shelves, each shelf having an air inlet at its rearmost extremity and an air outlet solely at its forwardmost extremity, duct means delivering refrigerated air to said shelves, diverting means at the forward extremity of said shelves directing flow of refrigerated air above and below each shelf, return duct means having openings therein, a blower associated with said return duct, means ror drawing the air discharge above and below said shelves through said openings into said return duct means, and refrigerating means in the path of air moved by said blower.

2. In a refrigerated showcase the combination of: a series of transverse hollow shelves, each shelf having an air inlet at its rearrnost extremity and an air outlet solely at its forwardrnost extremity, a blower, an air supply duct, duct means communicating said supply duct with each shelf, means at the forwardmost extremity of each shelf diverting air released therefrom above and below sai' shelves, return duct means adjacent the rearrnost extremity of each shelf receiving said air and returning same to said blower.

3. In a refrigerated showcase the combination of: a series of transverse hollow shelves, each shelf having an air inlet at its rea-rrnost extremity and an air outlet solely at its forwardmost extremity, a blower, an air supply duct, duct means communicating said supply duct with each shelf, diverter means at the forwardmost extremity of each shelf directing flow above and below said shelves, a return duct adjacent the rearmost of each shelf having openings therein r ceiving the air drawn into said duct by said blower and returning same to said blower for recirculation and refrigerating means in the path of air moved by said blower.

4. In a refrigerated showcase the combination of: a series of transverse hollow shelves, each shelf having an air inlet at its rearmost extremity and an air outlet solely at its forwardmost extremity, a single supply duct, means communicating said supply duct with each shelf, diveiter means at the forwardmost extremity of each shelf directing flow above and below said shelves, a return duct adjacent the rearmost extremity of each shelf having openings therein receiving air drawn into said duct by said blower and returning same to said blower for recirculation and refrigerating means in the path of air moved by said blower.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,855,760 Simons Oct. 14, 1958 2,962,875 Barroero Dec. 6, 1960 3,063,254 Dick-son Nov. 13, 1962 3,063,256 Lamb Nov. 13, 1962 3,115,091 Rutishauser Dec. 24, 1963 

2. IN A REFRIGERATED SHOWCASE THE COMBINATION OF: A SERIES OF TRANSVERSE HOLLOW SHELVES, EACH SHELF HAVING AN AIR INLET AT ITS REARMOST EXTREMITY AND AN AIR OUTLET SOLELY AT ITS FORWARDMOST EXTREMITY, A BLOWER, AN AIR SUPPLY DUCT, DUCT MEANS COMMUNICATING SAID SUPPLY DUCT WITH EACH SHELF, MEANS TO THE FORWARDMOST EXTREMITY OF EACH SHELF DIVERTING AIR RELEASED THEREFROM ABOVE AND BELOW SAID SHELVES, RETURN DUCT MEANS ADJACENT THE REARMOST EXTREMITY OF EACH SHELF RECEIVING SAID AIR AND RETURNING SAME TO SAID BLOWER. 